CAIRO, December 15, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Amnesty International blasted the British authorities over the detention of four Muslims for years under anti-terror laws without even interviewing them, highlighting the social and psychological impacts of the detention, The Independent reported on Thursday, December 15.

"Is this really what we call justice in this country? These men have had their liberty taken from them for four years yet they haven't even been charged and tried, let alone found guilty of anything," an AI spokesman said.

The four men, three Algerians known as "A", "G" and "H" and a Palestinian called Mahmoud Abu Rideh – who were among 16 suspects detained without trial under post-11 September terror legislation.

Though held on suspicion of being "international terrorists", The Independent has learnt that there is no prospect of the men ever being questioned over the offences they are alleged to have committed.

The men were interned in Belmarsh jail in south-east London - which has been called Britain's Guantanamo Bay - and other high security prisons in conditions consistently condemned by human rights organisations, the paper said.

Their detentions were ruled illegal by the law lords a year ago and they have since been released on control orders with tough restrictions on leaving home.

Three were re-arrested in August under immigration powers pending deportation and released by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act in October on very strict bail conditions amounting to house arrest.

The disclosure that the men have not been interviewed by the authorities will embarrass ministers, who have claimed that the men present such a terrorist threat that they have to be permanently monitored, said the daily.

"The fact that no questioning has taken place since arrest suggests that little effort has been made to explore the possibility of criminal charges," said Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman.

He added that these men have been left in a legal limbo which is contrary to every tradition of justice in this country.

Amnesty Director Kate Allen, who met two of the men at their homes, said they expressed a profound sense of injustice and amazement that this could happen in a country like Britain.

"Both men expressed a profound sense of injustice that their liberty had been taken from them without their ever being charged, tried or shown any evidence against them."

A Home Office spokesman did not deny that the detainees had never been questioned by police over the past four years.

"We believe these men are dangerous, but they cannot be prosecuted. Under those circumstances there's little point interviewing them," said one security source.

In interviews with Amnesty, the four said their detentions have harmed their physical and mental health and have had a devastating impact on their wives and families.

"I am basically locked up at home for 24 hours a day ... the pressure of this situation is enormous on my family," said "A".

"G" complained: "Every night I fear that the police will come and arrest me again. I feel like I have lost all access to a normal life."

Abu Rideh has made at least four suicide attempts.

"I can't sleep. I spend all my time in the house. I don't go outside much; I'm just not up to it."

"We've been moving from one nightmare to another," one of them told Amnesty.

The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman recognized their ordeal.

"Indefinite detention has taken an appalling toll on their mental health, just as it has with the Guantanamo Bay prisoners," Oaten said.

The Amnesty director also underlined the social repercussions on the men's indefinite detentions.

"But what struck me most was the impact that the detention and subsequent house arrest of these men has had on their partners and their families."

Allen said Abu Rideh's house, for example, does not feel like the kind of bustling home you would expect of a family with five children.

"It is silent, sad and isolated. Friends and family are scared to visit - to do so they have to submit their name and photo to the Home Office, and in effect become a 'known associate of a terrorist suspect'."

Allen stressed that if there is evidence against them, they should be charged "with a recognisably criminal offence and tried in a British court".

"Both expressed a wish for fair treatment, not special treatment - that the authorities should show them whatever evidence has condemned them to this limbo, and give them a chance to refute it in court. All they want is justice."

In a separate incident, a Muslim student told The Muslim News that he was detained for almost 11 hours under terror laws on July 21, because he didn’t carry an ID.

Ahmed (not his real name) said he was on his way to a local mosque in Goodge Street when he was arrested by plain clothed security officers, the newspaper said on its Web site.

"I was walking from Goodge Street to Warren Street. A crowd had gathered. Something had happened in the area. I stood in the area for a little while to see what was happening."

He then was approached by two armed plain clothed men.

"They asked me for an ID. I told them my ID was in my bag which I left in the office. I was searched and was told that they were arresting me under terror charges."

After initially being taken to Goodge Street police station at 1.30pm, Ahmed was driven to Paddington police station were he was placed in a cell for three hours without access to a lawyer or a telephone call.

After being interviewed, Ahmed said the police took him out of his cell and made him take off his clothes and he was given a jump suite to wear.

It was after he stamped his fingerprints and had mug shots taken that he was informed he was free to leave.

"They said I could leave and I was given a verbal apology. They promised me something in writing but I’ve yet to receive anything."

Ahmed was released at midnight. He had spent almost 11 hours in custody.

"I know the only reason I was stopped was because I was a Muslim. I have a slight beard its not very big but you can tell I’m a Muslim."

Ahmed’s brother accused the police of lying to the family about his whereabouts.

"My sister called Paddington (police station) and asked if my brother was there, rather than say 'yes, he’s here but we can’t give you any information', they lied and said 'no he isn’t here'".

He believes that "had the family not be proactive," Ahmed would have spent 24 hours or longer in prison.

Since July 7 bombings, many Muslims have been stopped and searched under Terrorism Act.

In a report released earlier this month, a group of Muslim advisers hand-picked by the government in the wake of the July 7 bombings warned that new anti-terror measures risked alienating law-abiding Muslims and driving fanatics underground.